Frozen shut

West Brook Skating Rink will be closed for the 2017/2018 season. The announcement came on the organization's Facebook page Wednesday, Dec. 27. Rink President Dave MacDonald said volunteers helped cut the cattails in December, but cold temperatures meant the work couldn't be finished before the pond froze. The dam that created the pond is aging and needs to be replaced as well. MacDonald said he hopes to create a nonprofit called the Friends of West Brook Skating Rink to apply for grants in the future. “We're hoping to get repairs done over the summer,” MacDonald said. “The biggest emphasis is getting volunteers involved, people involved, the association established and get all this stuff done for next year. The rink is going to be 100 years old in 2021 so we're trying to see if we can get all this stuff done so we can be open. It would be nice too see it there 100 years more.” (Grant McPherson photo)